Trapped Inside

Prologue

"'Alone in the corner of the hollow sits Featherheart, a she-cat of dreams some say, for the lives she saves. Cats have never died in the Clan, except for passing of age, for she could pull a spirit back from StarClan until it was truly their time. Her long silver fur would flow like waves lapping at the tip of her tail as she raced to save the warrior approaching death in their sleep. Her piercing amber eyes would shine like the stars, luring the soul back to its body.'

"Now that is just a myth told in the nursery to tell the young ones; it's something to keep them quiet for a couple of heartbeats, something to keep their minds on as the queens take a small moment of rest from their busy jobs that they take such pride in.

"They don't understand how lucky they are. How much they truly gain by choosing a path of a warrior, the sweet love and care they quickly receive. All whilst Featherheart sits alone in her den, with no one but the ill and empty nest to greet her. What she endures every time another she-cat is declared pregnant. She-cats who are so excited for the small ones in their bellies, they never catch her glare of sheer jealousy slowly becoming stronger with every announcement.

"Her desires are becoming more pronounced, more obvious. With every kit born, every tiny squeal, her eyes have stop shining like the stars, as a medicine cat's should. Instead, they are flickering of darker emotions, just as though the very shadows from the Place of No Stars rest within them.

"Her love of a tom, and the longing of a kit accepted into the Clan, will make this she-cat… deranged. Her fur will grow pale for such a young cat, and her heart will become raw.

"Listen now, young kit. You will be the last one born into this Clan and the one with the heaviest burden. You will not have a mother or siblings, but you shall live under StarClan's careful watch. Now dear kit, before you take your first breath, I give you this last gift. With this, you will live through what this she-cat plans and stop her. If you lose it before that time comes, if you give up, ThunderClan, ShadowClan, RiverClan, and WindClan shall perish from her selfishness.

"Now I, Thunderstar, give you this life to mend the Clans from this broken path that Featherheart will make. Use it wisely, for I will not be able to help you once you pass. But… StarClan shall pad across your dreams no matter how far you are."

The ginger tom lowered his muzzle to the tiny scrap of fur and touched noses with it. The moment he did, the kit took a sharp gasp and vanished.

"She won't be able to do this, Thunderstar," a she-cat spoke darkly, her brushy tail whipping furiously. "I see what she will do. ThunderClan will vanish!"

Thunderstar's amber eyes flashed at this and replied, "I know, but the other three will have a chance. I'm sorry, Shadowstar, but this is all I can do. Featherheart shall kill all the cats in the forest to get what she wants. She is the only hope for ShadowClan, RiverClan, and WindClan." He lowered his head. "ThunderClan shall perish."

Short because it is a prologue, sorry. Longer chapters later. I hope you enjoyed this Troublestripe